Posted on 09/11/2011 4:15:17 AM PDT by lbryce
Sheik Kamal Maamouri, the leader of one of the largest Shiite-dominated tribes in Iraq, used to call the United States troops here occupiers, demanding that they withdraw because he said they killed and imprisoned innocent members of his tribe.
But now he is not so sure he wants the Americans to go, at least not yet. Like many others across Iraq, he felt conflicted, and a bit frightened, after it was revealed last week that the United States may keep 3,000 to 4,000 troops in Iraq next year.
“The political changes that have occurred here and the security problems have led a lot of Iraqis, including me, to change our minds about the withdrawal of U.S. forces,” Mr. Maamouri said. That was a view that few Shiites, empowered by the fall of Saddam Hussein’s Sunni government, would ever have spoken — when it seemed the United States was never going to go.
“They bring a balance to Iraqi society,” he said.
Though Iraqis have called for Americans to leave from the start of the occupation in 2003, the prospect of such a drastic drawdown, from the 48,000 troops here now, has revealed another side of the Iraqi psyche. This is a nation that distrusts itself, with little faith in the government’s own security forces or political leaders. It is as if people here never actually believed that the United States would leave, so all along demands for a pullout were never carefully weighed against the potential fallout.
This is not to say that Iraqis no longer want to be liberated from a foreign military, which of course they say they do. But Iraqis who once cheered the fall of a dictator recall all too vividly the chaos and bloodshed that came after Mr. Hussein’s iron rule was broken.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Having second thoughts about demanding the withdrawl of US troops, are we? So now, feeling a bit queasy, uneasy, a bit too-insecure that Iraq may not be ready for prime-time nationhood, you don't seem as ready, willing to launch a symbolic shoe directly at our collective heads, we now don't seem to be as diabolical as the "Great Satan" of recent days.
Sorry, Muhammad, but we're outta here.(hopefully)
Sheikh Camel,
Be careful what you ask for
You just might get it
Buh Bye ya pos
“We shouldn’t think about the occupation emotionally,” said the governor of Anbar Province, Mohammed Qasim Abed, who for eight years wanted the Americans out, but now has had second thoughts as violence in his area escalates. “Iraq is just not ready, and it’s necessary for the Americans to stay to prevent Iran from overrunning the country and helping to prevent violence. But we know 3,000 troops will not be enough.”
Um... yeah... well sucks to be you...
Bush’s fault.
I merely say to Sheik Kamal Maamouri : Up yours Jack.
You treat us like crap,-—what you get is what you deserve.
And what they’ll get is that Khomeini guy.
This will not end well for America but I suspect it will end worse for Iraq ultimately. They have oil and, soon, a power vacuum. That’s a recipe for chaos. What a waste.
the entire arab psyche is one big dysfunctional cauldron of emotion. Much of the male population sits around all day and night drinking tea, gossiping and emoting.
Mostly rage.
No wonder islam suits them. Chanting about submission 5 times a day is a temporary respite from the rage. Like yoga. Then the imams fire them up again and the cycle perpetuates.
We (Bush) tried to instill an age of reason and western enlightenment on these people through their governing institutions, and by living among them as examples.....
We blew it. Because of them, And also because of the traitorous 5th column in our own government and society and among the world globalist elites that wanted Bush to fail more than they wanted America or western civilization to win.
But the muslims- they are like addicts to rage and resentment. We can't cure them. They have to decide to want it for themselves.
Not one more precious American life is worth losing in their demented unreality.
The “vacuum” in Iraq will be one big open passageway through which Iran - and islamofascism - can sweep, and keep going all the way to the Levant.
Obama has ensured that all the secular allies in the war on terror have fallen to Islamist rebellions; why should he do any different for Iraq, where lots of US blood has been shed to give the people there a chance to live in a free country?
It would spoil Obama’s 100% record of siding with Islamists if he allowed there to be one nation that didn’t join the push for a worldwide caliphate.
Yes, this will end very, very badly for the entire free world, but then that’s what Obama has been after all along so what did we expect?
I agree 100 percent.
Since we haven’t had the stomach, desire, will, whatever, to take out the real source of the problems -IRI- It won’t be the end. We’ll have to go back.
Until the regime in Iran has been destroyed, the fight won’t be over.
If they’re serious about it they should offer a few long term base agreements so the US retains a footprint for protecting key areas of the country. Retaining bases in Kirkut, Tikrit, Balad, Baghdad, IZ, Kut, Najaf, Basrah and Um Qasar should do it.
Iraq should hire Halliburton and Black Water.
Nothing further needs to be said except read post #8 by silverleaf.
Barbarians can only be governed by force.
Iraq has no Washington nor Jefferson. These men came from Christianity.
Jefferson was definitely not a christian; he was a deist. Washington’s view have been debated. He was most likely a deist as well. Benjamin Franklin and many of the other well known founders were also deists.
...that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights...
Yeah a deist wrote that..../sarc
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.